Welcome to the Fall Semester, 2013 issue of the Administrative Council’s online Newsletter!

The general purpose of the newsletter is to update the IU Northwest community on some of the recent and planned activities/projects of the administrative units that make up Administration at IU Northwest, including Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities Planning and Campus Services, Human Resources, Physical Plant, and University Police. The newsletter is produced twice a year in August/September and January/February.

Many individuals within the Office of Administration have been working with the I.U. Office of University Architect and with other University and campus units, including I.T., Fiscal Affairs, and Academic Affairs, to develop plans for and to upgrade campus facilities during the Summer/Fall, 2012.

Some of the major projects or activities conducted during this period include:

Post-Demolition of the Old Tamarack Building

The old Tamarack building was demolished in 2012.

“Phase 2” site improvement to the demolished space began last summer and was completed in the fall of 2012. Phase 2 involved basic development of the site, including:

Additional development of the site’s green space (“Phase 3”) will take place in the future. Chancellor Lowe initiated a campus conversation on further site development, and consultative planning based on the ideas/preferences developed as a result of the conversation will begin shortly. An IU landscape architect is assisting in the process.

What We Do

The Office of Administration and its units seek to assist the academic units and others on campus by providing leadership and support for campus facilities planning; coordinating planning for capital construction, repairs and renovations; managing the operation and maintenance of campus facilities and grounds; engaging in activities that enhance the institution’s human resources and other essential campus services; and developing policies and procedures and engaging in operational activities that promote campus health, safety and security, all helping to guide campus development to give physical form to IU Northwest’s mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.

Raintree Hall North Patio Project

Phase 1 of a patio project located at the north end of Raintree Hall was completed during the Fall Semester, 2012. The project created a patio which was designed to help alleviate water buildup in the area and allow for greater use of the space during warm weather months. Under Phase II (conducted in the first half of 2013), Administration purchased new outdoor furniture for the patio and added landscaping to the patio’s border.

Sewer Lines and Lift Station Project (done in conjunction with Gary Sanitary District)

The University has been working with the Gary Sanitary District on a major sewer project that is expected to provide substantial assistance to the campus (and the surrounding neighborhood) with the removal of storm water during heavy rains.

The first phase of the project (completed in late 2012) included installation of new sewer lines down Connecticut from Ridge Road to the Little Calumet River and construction of a new pumping station near Connecticut at 33rd Ave. Phase 1 of the project also included the construction of lines under Broadway along 33rd and 35th.

Phase 2 of the project includes connecting with the new sewer lines W of 33rd and 35th to serve the main campus. The University retained an engineering firm in 2013 to develop a project design that will best allow it to connect to the new sewer. Connection will take place in the spring-summer period of 2014, with completion of the entire project expected before the start of the Fall Semester, 2014.

Upgrade to Food Service Facilities

Phase 1 in a multi-phase upgrade to facilities used for campus food services began last summer and was substantially completed by the end of 2012. Phase I included infrastructure upgrades to the plumbing and electrical systems and the installation of some new equipment at the RedHawk Cafe and the Little RedHawk Cafe.

Additional work to the cafeteria kitchen and serving areas was completed this summer (Phase 2), with a possible Phase 3 focused on further improvements to the cafe kitchen scheduled to occur in the summer 2014 (funding permitting). The project results from a feasibility study conducted by Administration and UAO in the spring 2012.

Signal at 34th and Broadway/Enhanced PD Traffic Enforcement

Several individuals within Administration met with INDOT representatives and worked with IU Real Estate to help bring about INDOT’s plan to construct a signal light at the busy 34th and Broadway crossing. INDOT awarded the project in October 2012 and work began soon after. The signal light was operational by the end of 2012.

Portage University Center

Assisting Academic Affairs, and working with AA, IT, University Real Estate and others, individuals within Administration in 2012 helped to develop the lease for and transition classes from the former Portage Commons site location to a new academic site located at 6260 Central Avenue, Portage. The new 30,000+ square-foot facility offers a great new venue for course offerings.

Raintree HVAC Plumbing Replacement

Individuals within Administration worked with UAO on a major campus project involving the replacement of piping in Raintree Hall. Replacing ceiling and lighting on the first floor of RH was part of the project’s scope. Work began May 2013 and was completed in August 2013.

Dunes “Envelope” Project

Several of us within Administration are working with UAO to advance a project that seeks to deal with the long-standing water intrusion problem within the Dunes building. Discussions are occurring now for a phased-in repair plan. The initial phase of the work is expected to begin before the start of winter.

Renovations to Child Care Center

Chancellor Lowe directed the development of a feasibility review and plans for the renovation of the Child Care Center to house two campus administrative units. Administration is working with UAO and an outside design consultant to advance the project. This will be the first campus project to incorporate the University’s new renovation standards. Construction is expected to begin before the end of 2013.

Customer Satisfaction Surveys

The Administrative Council continually seeks input to help us with unit/program evaluation designed to improve unit efficiency and the quality of services. For example, Physical Plant has had online for some time a Customer Satisfaction Survey evaluating the response of the Physical Plant staff to work order requests:

The Building Services’ survey asks those completing the survey to consider their level of satisfaction based on the established Building Services’ frequency schedule for cleaning, which provides the schedule for the frequency of specific cleaning efforts on a daily, weekly, etc. basis. So that the director can determine more precisely any areas in need of improvement, the survey asks for the level of satisfaction for work done in a particular building and room on campus. However, an opportunity also exists to set out overall satisfaction and to provide suggestions and/or general comments regarding Building Services. The survey can be taken multiple times, as well, to provide input on several buildings and rooms.

Customer satisfaction surveys are also offered by the University Police and the Office of Environmental Health & Safety at:

The directors within Administration appreciate your input as they work to improve service.

Renovations to the Hawthorn First-Floor Restrooms

Design work was completed in 2013 for the renovation and remodel of the Hawthorn Hall first-floor restrooms.

Renovations on the restrooms began during the summer 2013, with project completion expected before the end of 2013. These are the first of several additional restroom renovations planned for 2014 (to occur in several older buildings across the campus).

Examples of Other, Facility-Related Projects

A number of smaller facility-related projects/planning activities took place over the last several months, including, for example:

New furniture and carpeting were installed within the John W. Anderson Library/Conference Center’s conference room 140A.

Additional carpeting and painting projects took place summer 2013 at several campus locations.

Work was completed on the “Frank Caucci Languages, Cultures, and Listening Lab,” located on the fourth floor of Hawthorn Hall.

Equipment platforms and stairs for employee safety were placed on the Moraine Hall roof.

Administration continues to work with the I.U. Office of Emergency Management and Business Continuity to acquire specific addresses for campus buildings (beyond the aggregate 3400 Broadway address). The purpose of this project is to provide individualized addressing to serve external emergency management personnel, who may be called to campus in an emergency. The new addresses will eventually be displayed on new exterior building signage.

Recently acquired vacant university buildings were demolished as part of a neighborhood partnership effort between IU Northwest and the City of Gary. Administration and IU Real Estate worked closely with the Gary Redevelopment Office on this important project.

Another round of campus-initiated demolitions of vacant buildings is expected to occur over the next several months.

UPCOMING: Projects Related to an Enhanced R&R Funding and a New Academic Building to Replace Tamarack Hall

As Chancellor Lowe stated in his annual message to the campus, a significant enhancement to R&R funding levels will result in a number of important improvement projects across campus. Also, hopes are high for work to begin and advance quickly on the new academic building to replace Tamarack Hall. Those of us in Administration look forward to our involvement in these exciting initiatives to improve campus facilities.

Emergency Preparedness

Update Your “IU Notify” Contact Information: Please remember to update your contact information for IU-Notify through OneStart to stay informed in case of an emergency. Go to the "Notifications" section of OneStart and then click "IU-Notify." You can also select to receive notices for other IU campuses, as well.

Human Resources

Legal Compliance Training

The required Legal Compliance Training is scheduled October 23 and 24 and will consist of the following topics.

IU Policy requires all “staff” supervisors to complete this training, this is applicable to new supervisors and those who need a refresher (last attended 5 or more years ago). Please be sure to register with Human Resource Assistant, Crystal O’Brien, clobrien@iun.edu.

IU Northwest Police Department

Kids Academy

The Kids Academy, hosted by CURE on July 15-26, assists kids between the ages of 10-15 years old to understand what the police department does for them in their community, as well as, for them to provide input to the police. Mrs. Sandra Smith of CURE and Sgt. Melvin Blakely coordinated the event.

A variety of police instructors and fire personnel taught on topics such as, SWAT, the use of force, drowning victims, bullying, peer pressure, drug and tobacco use, and other topics. The kids were able to role play (dress up) in some of the courses. They formed their own SWAT teams and acted as if they were engaged in police search warrants. They were also introduced to the City of Gary Police Department's K-9 unit.

National Night Out

Chief Patricia Nowak writes: On August 6, National Night out was held where Lt. James, Sgt. Blakely, and myself brought balloons with IUPD on them and IU Police badge tattoos for the children and interacted with them at Pittman Square Park.

Original Press Release: Let’s Enjoy the Night as a Community! The City of Gary’s National Night Out will be held on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. All residents are welcome to take part in enjoying this fun occasion. Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson is inviting the entire community to participate. There are in fact two locations to which all the festivities will be occuring: Pittman Square Park on 51st & Pennsylvania Street as well asHorace Mann Track on 5th & Garfield Street. There will be many free events all hosted by the City of Gary. There will be giveaways, lots of music, and food. BBQ grills are welcomed as well. In addition, voting registration, safety tips, fingerprinting, and even K-9 demos will be available to the public. Churches as well as community organizations are encouraged to host their own outdoor events. Once again the Mayor as well as the Gary Police Department encourages everyone to come on out and enjoy this high time in the city. - See more at: http://www.teamgaryindiana.com/?p=1650#sthash.NFKGBIZY.dpuf

Environmental Health and Safety

In collaboration with the City of Gary Department of Green Urbanism and the Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District, IU Northwest staff (IU Northwest Stormwater Management) will be participating in a discussion with local residents about the benefits of rain barrels to homeowners, the basics of rain gardens, and stormwater pollution prevention for citizens.